(Sundays will be late because of ministry obligations)

Mark 14:1-31; 1 Kings 8; Hosea 9:17; Hosea 10

“Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.’ And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, ‘Is it I?’ And another said, ‘Is it I?’” (Mark 14:18-19 NKJV)

By the time the Last Supper began, the disciples were overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. On the one hand, they remembered the heady heights of the triumphal entry. In the back of their minds was the nagging uncertainty about Jesus’s teaching about His upcoming death. They’d seen Jesus take on the role of a slave and wash their feet, yet they knew He was the Messiah. Then, as they were eating the Passover meal, Jesus shocked them again: one of the twelve would betray Him. Perhaps the disciples were afraid that they’d unintentionally betray Jesus, because none of them would do it on purpose. And so, each one asked if they were the one. According to other versions of this story, Judas joined in that questioning, knowing that he was the one, but, perhaps, hoping that Jesus didn’t know. But Jesus knew…and still loved Judas.

Betrayal is such an ugly word. If you think about it, enemies can’t betray you; the only people who can betray you are friends and family. Judas had lived with Jesus and the disciples for about three years. He was trustworthy enough to be the treasurer of the group. In fact, none of the disciples suspected that Judas would be the one to betray Jesus, thinking that Judas was taking care of other financial arrangements when he left the dinner table. Such is the nature of betrayal. The question for us, though, isn’t whether or not we’ll be betrayed – we will; the question is how will we react when we’re betrayed? Will we lash out to shame and ridicule our betrayer? Will we seek revenge? Or will we show them the love of Jesus – the love that Jesus showed Judas all the way to the end. I’d like to think I’d show that love, but I’ll have to change past behaviors to do that. Fortunately, God will mold me into His image so I can do that.

Lord, look inside my heart. See what needs to be changed and then change it as You mold me into the image of Jesus Christ.